Dacie Moses Celebrates 127th Birthday

February 1, 2013

By Stephanie Lee and Maddy Crowell

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This past weekend, Dacie Moses house celebrated the 127th birthday of Candice Moses, the house matron of the famous house that still stands on Union Street, practically unaltered from when it was first built in 1870.

“It was a quintessential Dacie’s brunch with warm baked goods and even better company. I don’t make it to Dacie’s often enough but it is such a cozy place. And who doesn’t love homebaked goods?” said Beret Fitzgerald, ’15 of the Sunday brunch celebration.

The menu was comprised of an eclectic array of sweets that filled the house and kept true the tradition of warm comfort food that began with Dacie Moses herself. Cassie Brigham, ‘14 a current resident of the house, baked her famous salted caramel birthday cake, Eva Koeller, ’14, a student baker made pumpkin bread with chocolate chips, and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, and other student bakers contributed with spicy apple sauce bread, homemade cinnamon bread, and coconut macaroons.

Dacie Moses was a longtime employee and friend of the College and was known for inviting students into her home to enjoy cookies and good conversation. After she passed away, she donated her home to the college, requesting that it be used by students in much the same way as it was used by Dacie herself. The house itself was built before Dacie’s birth—over 140 years ago.

Today, Dacie Moses House carries on the tradition of hosting a weekly Sunday brunch open to all students on campus, and to anyone looking to bake.

It also withholds its reputation as the hostess for music. Since as long as 1955, it has been the practice space for both the Carleton Knights, Carleton’s all male a cappella group, and its all female equivalent, the Nightingales, who still meet three times a week at the house to practice.

“To me, Dacie’s means music, community, and consistency,” said Ellen Drews ‘13. “I’ve been practicing with my a capella group at Dacie Moses’ house three nights a week for four years. Going to Dacie’s provides a rhythm to my week and it’s a place for me to regularly take a break from classes. I can’t separate singing from Dacie’s--or Dacie’s from singing--but I also appreciate the other comforts of the house: cookies, other Carls weaving in and out of rehearsal, and connecting with my Knightingales sisters night after night.”

Alumni remember the house with fondness as well. Janet Kresl-Moffat, Class of 1980, recalls Dacie Moses House as a very welcoming environment: “I enjoyed the cookies and the warmth of her charm only once, on a Sunday morning…I’ve always regretted being too shy to go back.”

Dacie Moses’ spirit has withstood time; her house remains a safe refuge for students to escape the cold’s bite and share a taste of sweets.

“My memory is that she hosted any student who arrived as an equal and that it felt very homey,” said Kresl-Moffat. “I know there were regular visitors there…I remember those cold, blue, blue, blue Minnesota days.”